Step 1. Understand the Benefits of Code 

Adoption 

Before beginning the code adoption process, states and jurtsdlcllons 

should understand the benefits realized through energy code 

adoption. 

Description 

The pnmary goal of an energy code or standard is to coneeiW energy. ComrnetciaJ 

!Uidlnga and residential householda In the lkllted States consume nearty 50% or IN 

natloris total pdmary enetgy, 70% of the nation's electJ1clly, and acccurt for one-third of 

the nation's greemouse emlllllona.. 1 A report by the McKinsey Global Institute f!Uld 

that Amarica could reduc:e enargy use in ,_ and existing bliklinga by more than one 

qr..wter by 2020 'Afth measures that pay for them88Me v.tthln 1 o )'ears. 2 Energy code 

adoption enables r.w and renowlad l'lllllldentlal and commercial atructurM to achiiMI 

the energy effidency outlined In the code. 

In addition to energy effldency, energy codes; 

• save mona,. The energy and 

cost 88111 ngs that result from 

adoption of enetgy codes can be 

algnlllc:ant. It Ia eat I mated that 

building energy codes will produce 

a financial benefit to ownan of 

nearly $2 billion antU~IIy by 2015, 

rtslng to OW!!' $15 billion annually 

by 2030. This benefit Ia a!Neved 

by aaving over 14 quadrillion Btu 

of energy from 2009-2030, an 

estimated annual sal.tngs of 1. 7 

quadrillion Btu by 2030.3 

Consider !tis case in point: 

studies 8how that transforming 

the building llldor to employ 

more ~clent design, 

equipment, and solar power c::cUd 

cut projected overall houaehold 

ene~gy lllq)8!1Bes from $285 bi Ilion 

to $130 billion by 2030. Falling to 

catalyze !Uidlng sector 

transformations wlllndae the COlli 

of meeting long-tenn climate 

goal8 by at 1eut $500 billion per 

year globally. 4 

• R8duce emlalona. Buildings 

use a significant amount of 

ene~gy and, aa a result, aeate 

oonalcllllrabla emissions. The 

projected savfngs from energy 

codes translates Into an 

estimated oum~atiw BB11ings by 

2030 of 800 million mallie tons of 

COz--eq!Nilant to IWT!OIIIng 146 

million vehldea from our nation'& 

roaciMiya. A study anlucted by 

!lw Climate Pol jot I nitiattva <§ 

found that 8tales that adopted 

federal building energy codes 

The U.S. Green Building Council 

(USGBC) conducted a Jl~H~Xr!il on 

the number of jobs associated with 

green building practices. The 

results show that the economic 

impact from green building 

construction is significant and will 

continue to grow as the demand 

for green buildings rises. 

Green construction spending 

currently supports over 2 miNion 

jobs and generates over $100 

bHifon In gross domestic product 

and wages. By the year2013, this 

study estimates that green 

buildings will support nearly 8 

miNion jobs &CtDss occupations 

ranging from construction 

managers and catpenters to truck 

drivers and cost esttmators. 

USGBC also supports job creation 

and economic ac;t;v;ty. Leadership 

in Energy and Environmental 

Design (LEED). LEED-related 

spending has alrrJady generated 

15,000jobs since 2000, and by 

2013 this study forecasts that an 

additional230,000 jobs will be 

created. 

reduoed household enetgy UB8Qe by 1 0% and hoUBehold greenhouse gas emissions 

by 18% from 1988-2008.5 

• Cl'8lll8 joN. The imova!M use of improved technology in bliklinge and the 

Increasing naacl for energy codaexpam will create employment opportglltlas 

ACE LEARIIINCI SERIES 

ACE Overview 

Acrorrfm• andAbbrevilllior. 

"Feel hit DefinliAdoption Tootkl 

8fllll1.lhtlllfalld 1M blnllftll ol code 

.tDptlan 

Slap 2. 11111111fy a cadllsupport 1'*-buclura 

Slap 3. 11111111fy 1118 ApproprtiD Adaplon Procau 

and Fnmewurk 

Slap 4. Selact lhaAwrqliala Coda for Adoption 

Slap &. Dalllrmil"lll Crucial Callparaill rJ tha 

Erergy Coda: SCOpe lnl Appllcabll"', Form .. 

Alklpllon Dale, and Effacllve Dala 

Slap 8. 11111111fy llfllf Own:ana lha Ban181ll rJ 

Adoption 

step 7. Oldine Who is Reepcnible fa' Sll!ilfyi ng 

ll't'llllllaAdopted 

Step 8. Receive Asalsllrce on Erergy Code and 

AdopdonQL.IIIIItlor. 

Callpllama Toolkit 

Enfur1:anc:rt Toolkit 

113 
7128f2015 step 1. Understand the Benefi1s of Code Adoption I Buildirg Energy Codes PrO(J'am 

around the nation. A1l new codes are aeated for greater energy efficiency in 

buildings, many new jobs will become available, including technical experts, duct 

and air leakage professionals, quality control assessors, building and system 

commissioning agents, energy auditors, and compliance officers. Completing 

proJect retrofits and building weatheflzallon wtll aeate new employment 

opportunities as well. 

• Protect consumare and support grid reliability. Energy codes reduce utility 

costs, impi'!M! indoor air quality and reduce emissions--protecting consumers and 

bolstering the economy. More stringent energy code provisions reduce heating and 

cooling costs, not only making comfortable living conditions more affordable, but 

also putting money back into the pockets of consumers. Additional funds allow 

consumers to spend more on other goods and seNice&--individuals haw more 

money to spend on items in the local economy and business owners have more 

money to spend on business lmpi'!M!ments, Including Investments and employee 

benefits. Energy code provisions also reduce pollution and greenhouse gas 

emissions, improving the indoor air quality of homes and businesses and keeping 

consumers comfortable and healthy. Knowing the energy efficiency of buildings and 

homes also allows consumers to make educated, informed decisions when buying, 

renting, or leasing a building and protects them from expensive utility bills and 

future retrofits. Through system sizing and inaeased controls, energy codes are 

able to curb the impact that buildings ha...e on the energy grid. By deaeasing the 

impact and peak loads of buildings, energy codes help lessen the stress on the 

grid, which increases grid reliability. In addition, energy codes that reduce building 

energy consumption also help reduce our nation's dependency on foreign energy 

sources. 

• Improve health. The Building Codes AJ!sistance Project (BCAP) reported that the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that buming fossil fuels 

contributed to numerous health issues, such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, 

and low birth weight, among others. As a result, health care costs have inaeased 

to cover emergency room and hospital expenses. Energy.etfident buildings reduce 

fossil fuel emissions and thus lower the risk of related health issues. 

Recommendations 

States and jurisdictions will benefit greatly by understanding and discussing the benefits 

of code adoption in relation to their partirular energy goals. It is important, however, to 

undenstand that the benefits of code adoption vary greatly by audience. Consumers and 

building owners will generally be interested in much different code benefits than an 

elected official or policymaker. 

When discussing the benefits of energy code adoption, tailor your argument towards a 

specific audience. BECP and the Online Code Environment and Advocacy Network 

(OCEAN) have created resource guides to educate groups and indMduals interested in 

and affected by energy code adoption. These resource guides, as well as additional 

pamphlets, fact sheets, and benefit overviews are listed in the resources section in this 

step. 

In addition, producing a fad sheet that is state- or jurisdiction~pecific may have the 

greatest impact on the intended audience. Mississippi, for example, has created a suite 

of energy code fact sheets for residential and commerdal energy codes as they relate to 

the build environment In the state (Resources 1-3 In this step). These fact sheets 

highlight code benefits, energy savings, case studies, and additional resources. Statespecific infonnation regarding incremental cost analysis, including break-even point and 

retum on inwstment, for upgrading to the 2009 and 2012 IECC is available through the 

OCEAN website@ and could be used to compile an energy code fact sheet for your 

state. 

Resources 

1. Energy Codes Create Belter Homes @ 

2. Resjdenlial Energy Codes Build a Better Bottom Line @ 

3. Commerdal Energy Codes Build a Better Bottom Line @ 

4. Wrt Enemy Codes Matter: What Adypcates Need to Know @ 

5. Wrt Enemy Codes Matter: VVhat Policy Ma!sers Neec! to Know@ 

6. Wrt Enemy Codes Matter: VVhat Consumers Nee!! to Know@ 

7. Buildjnq Energy Codes Besource Gyjde for Poljcy Malq!rs ~ 

8. Top Ten Reasons for Buildino Energy Codes 

9. Building Energy Codes Fact Sheet@ 

1 0. Wrt Adoot Energy Codes?@ 

11. Buj!djng Codes for Energy Efficjency@ 

12. Green Jobs Stydy@ 

1. Alienee to Save Energy. 2010. Bulc!ing Enemy Codes Faa Sh!!l @ 

2. Aliance to Save Energy. 2010. Byldjng Enemy Codes Faa Sheet @ 

3. Belzer P, M Halvenon, and S Mc:Oonald. 2010. A Retrospealve Analysis of Commen:lal Buldlng 

Energy Codes: 1990-2008. Building Energy Codea Program, Pacific Northweat National Laboratory, 

Richland, Wash~gton. 

4. HouserT. 2009. The Eoonomics of Enemy Efliciency in Buildings@ . Poley Brief 09-17, Pete1110n 

lnllllute for lntemllllonal Economics, Waahlngton, D.C. Acalseed January 13, 2009. 

ttlps:llwww .energycodes.gov/resa.rce-cerder/AC Eladoplicn'step1 213 
7128f2015 step 1. Understand the Benefi1s of Code Adoption I Buildirg Energy Codes PrO(J'am 

Conlacll ~Silo- u.s. Dopanmontoi'Ellor;y USA.gov 

LutUpdllod:lllul'lday,Jonuary31,2013-11:1!8am 

ttlps:llwww .energycodes.gov/resa.rce-cerder/AC Eladoplicn'step1 313